Fawad Ahmed
Fawad Ahmed (Pashto: فواد احمد born 5 February 1982) is a Pakistan-born Australian cricketer. He was granted Australian citizenship in July 2013. In August and September 2013, he played for the Australian cricket team in both a T20I and an ODI series against England.
Ahmed left Pakistan in 2010, emigrating to Australia on a short-stay visa sponsored by the Yoogali Cricket Association.
Soon after arrival, he applied for refugee status, claiming he was persecuted by religious extremists for playing and coaching cricket. His hometown is in northwest Pakistan, a region that borders Afghanistan and is affected by the current War in North-West Pakistan.
Choosing to live in Melbourne, Victoria, Ahmed took up playing with Hoppers Crossing in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, and soon progressed to playing for Melbourne University in Victorian Premier Cricket.
Ahmed also participated in Melbourne's largest 'open' T20 event run by Infinity Cricket in 2011 & 2012 representing the Western Warriors who were winners. He was named the Best Bowler of the 2012 Infinity T20 Cricket Tournament.
He made his debut in the Big Bash League in January 2013, taking 0/34 on debut, and was subsequently selected in the Prime Minister's XI to play against the West Indies.
In five one-day matches for Victoria in the Ryobi One Day Cup in 2012-13 he took 10 wickets at 18.00.
He also played in Victoria's last three matches in the Sheffield Shield, taking 16 wickets at 28.37, including 2 for 79 and 5 for 83 against Queensland. In the 2014/15 Bupa Sheffield Shield final, Ahmed took the honour for the best figures in a Shield final. He took 8 for 89 in 40 overs with 9 maidens.